Resilient bike - tourer?

[KnackeredBike]

I have decided to ditch my car permanently and am looking for a bike so that I can retire KB as a back up bike.

Basically, the bike gets used for pretty much anything at the moment. Commute to work almost every day - 22 miles - lugging two mini-KBs around in a trailer - shopping - visiting friends. I also have the perhaps insane idea of doing JOGLE with 3 year old in tow having got her totally hooked on bikes too.

The top requirement for the bike is to be as resilient as possible. Basically with minimal servicing, air and oil to be at least limp-home-able wherever possible. I commuted for a long time on a 1920s police bike, bloody slow, but it never missed a beat despite multiple crashes. In fact one 4x4 ended up with a police bike-shaped imprint in the wing. This bike has been good, mainly rear wheel problems ever since the original was damaged by some PITA van driver.

Obviously it will be easier with a backup bike but still... I would rather spend my time not waiting for repairs.

Secondly, fairly quick. Hence when I can no longer use the police one

Finally, not too expensive because it has to be locked outside between work sites, and having already bought an expensive bike to have it nicked a day later (bastards) then I am keen to retain this one. Probably less that £500 if it meets points 1 and 2.

I assume I need to go for a tourer but I'm not sure what setup would make the bike near-bulletproof. Thanks for suggestions!

 

[Cycleops]

Bearing in mind your requirements it has to be steel frame, possibly some sort of tourer. Your budget precludes things like Surlys etc so think your only option is second hand. Maybe have a look at Gumtree, Preloved etc and see what's available. I guess you could adapt a MTB to your liking so perhaps consider that. Also have a look on here in the members ads.
I'm sure others will have their ideas.

 

[KnackeredBike]

Thanks @Cycleops. I can spend more but I can only justify so many expensive bikes to Mrs KB if it gets nicked again.

I should add I am 2m tall so I think I need a 60/62cm frame. My current one is 51cm but might as well get a bigger one this time.

 

[mjr]

Rather than a pricey tourer, I'd be looking at one of the lighter Dutch-style roadsters, especially one where the bars can be flipped to get a more aero riding position, but I agree with @Cycleops that I suspect you'd need to look secondhand to get one that's both tough and fast for under £500. I don't think your height would be difficult to find in Dutch-style bikes

 

[KnackeredBike]

Thank you all, having a scout on eBay.

Out of interest how much would it be for a decent tourer? I'm concious I don't want to lose too much speed from the current road bike when the new one is unladen. I did have a look but it's impossible to tell (for me) where the line is between cheap crap and something that will last.

 

[AndyRM]

Second hand Dawes Galaxy?

You can get a new one with full rack and guards with change for a couple of beverages from £600 (Tredz), though it's an aluminium frame rather than a steel one.

 

[KnackeredBike]

Hmm, the Dawes Galaxy are lovely though they only seem to go up to 58cm. Definitely a consideration, they don't look nickable in a nice way. Probably still feel big after 51cm though.

 

[AndyRM]

Hmm, the Dawes Galaxy are lovely though they only seem to go up to 58cm. Definitely a consideration, they don't look nickable in a nice way. Probably still feel big after 51cm though.

More to it than just height though. I reckon you'd be OK on a 58cm but it would be worth checking, as it would on any bike - especially if you're going to be spending hours in the saddle!

 

[Salar]

One thing to bear in mind if you are permanently getting rid of your car, don't let car insurance lapse.

I know it sounds daft but get your name put on someones policy, because if you do go for a few years without insurance and return to the motoring fraternity your policy could be high and possibly no claims bonuses will be lost. Also one day you might have to drive?

This happened to me a good few years ago when I handed back a company car, although I had no claims I lost all my no claims bonuses I'd previously built up, even a company letter didn't convince the insurers.

 

[KnackeredBike]

@AndyRM. Thanks. I might see if any colleagues can recommend a LBS in Oxford to try, but at least it is good to know what type of brand/price point to aim at.

 

[KnackeredBike]

@Salar I will still me on Mrs KBs insurance although I do increasingly little driving these days, mainly because I spot someone on a bike and immediately wish we could swap places.

I'm still keeping my car for the moment on the drive, it is a car that is worth little but incredibly rare, I think I am likely to have the last one in the UK, basically a Mk1 Clio but with a Bosch pump so it runs on veg oil. Unfortunately Mrs KB won't drive it because it has no power steering.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

If you want absolute fit and forget, plus speed then things will get slightly more pricey (OK, quite a lot more...) The obvious recommendation is a Rohloff and belt drive, but you are £2K before you even start speccing it further

tbh, if you are looking for a single bike and ditching your car, then I think that you could probably justify being a bit more spendy - I know I could

Here's a local guy who produces bespoke builds to suit the needs of the buyer, but there are lots of other options around http://www.oxfordbikeworks.co.uk/

 

[KnackeredBike]

@Bonefish Blues I could happily justify spending more but I work at hospitals sometimes on call until 2am in the morning. One of the few benefits of driving is you can go back to your car and be relatively confident someone hasn't pinched it, and I need the same in a bike.

I have two heavy chains but that's 1min with an angle grinder. And for me it will be a utilitarian machine, not something to show off.

It is not really the end of the world if it is unrepairable at the roadside. Just a massive PITA, plus when you get work you then can't get back again at the end of the day without calling for car rescue, which I dislike intensely.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Trouble is, all bikes are vulnerable to some degree, sadly. Second hand tourers would seem to fit best, then, as you suggest (plus a couple of big-ass locks...)

Kona Sutras, Dawes Galaxies, Hewitt Cheviots (nice one on Cycling UK at the moment under your budget: https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=115928), Spas, Thorns etc will all give you something unshowy but very capable.

 

[raleighnut]

Get an old Raleigh MTB, a rigid CrMo Steel one and fit decent wheels and transmission to it then get it mucky and don't clean it, perfect commuter.